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Kathy Hochul to host first fundraiser subsequent week after saying NY governor run

Kathy Hochul to host first fundraiser next week after announcing NY governor run

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference the day after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on August 11, 2021 at the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York.

Cindy Schultz | Reuters

The New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to host a personal fundraiser in her hometown of Buffalo next week as she prepares to run for governor in 2022, according to people familiar with the matter.

Hochul will lead the event on Wednesday, days before it takes over Andrew Cuomo, who on Tuesday announced his resignation over countless sexual harassment allegations that got him in hot water with state lawmakers and prosecutors. He said his resignation would take effect in two weeks.

Top tickets are expected to cost between $ 2,500 and $ 5,000, these people said. There will likely be a separate base donation event that day as well, one of the people said.

The Hochul fundraising campaign will also celebrate its birthday, said these people. Hochul holds a fundraiser for her birthday every year, added one of the people.

These people declined to be named in order to speak freely about an event that does not appear to be on Hochul’s public calendar.

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This event has higher stakes than previous fundraisers. It could help set the tone for Hochul’s 2022 governorship campaign, in which she could face stiff competition from several prominent Democrats.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and State Senator Alessandra Biaggi have not ruled out running for the governor’s villa. Attorney General Letitia James, whose report on Cuomo allegations of sexual harassment led to the governor’s resignation, is believed to be a potential lead candidate for the job.

Hochul becomes the state’s first female governor.

One of the people said that the fundraiser was originally supposed to take place on Hochul’s property in Buffalo next week, but that it had to be relocated due to increased interest in it. The fundraiser could also be postponed to another date after it settles into the governor’s job.

Although the event was launched before Cuomo’s resignation and the appointment of Hochul as the state’s next head of government, the money raised at the event will end up in their gubernatorial campaign account. State records show that Hochul’s campaign to re-elect the lieutenant governor raised just over $ 525,000 in the first half of the year and has just over $ 1.7 million to spend.

Hochul told NBC’s “TODAY” that she is moving forward with her candidacy for governor next year.

“I fully expect that. I have prepared myself for it,” said Hochul when asked if she would run.

Those expected to join the fundraiser next week are many of Hochul’s most loyal supporters, these people said.

“These are people who have been with her since the city council. They have long been her supporters and friends,” one person with direct knowledge of the congregation told CNBC.

Hochul received calls from donors shortly after James released the report that Cuomo had sexually molested 11 women. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing. Some of the donors who spoke to Hochul at the time to encourage her to run for governor had previously supported Cuomo.

Many of Cuomo’s other top financiers are starting to privately acknowledge that they will support Hochul in 2022, said a person familiar with the talks.

A Hochul spokesman did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

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Politics

Biden asserting paid depart tax credit score for companies

Biden announcing paid leave tax credit for businesses

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a tax credit for employers offering paid vacation-related vaccines as the White House urges more Americans to check for Covid shots amid a slight drop in vaccinations.

The small and medium-sized business tax credit will fully offset the cost of paid employee time off for vaccination as well as recovery from potential vaccination side effects, the White House said.

The Biden government also urges employers to use their resources to promote vaccinations by sharing accurate information and offering possible incentives such as product gifts and discounts for vaccinated individuals.

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“Every employee should be given paid vacation to get a shot, and companies should know they can offer it without affecting the bottom line,” Biden said in a White House speech. “There’s no excuse not to do it.”

The tax credit, which is part of the $ 1.9 trillion Covid stimulus plan that went into effect last month, applies to nearly half of all private sector workers, according to the White House.

For businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees, the tax credit covers paid vacation of up to $ 511 per day per employee for up to 10 work days or 80 hours between April 1 and September 30, 2021.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC on Wednesday April 21, 2021.

Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Biden announced the tax credit after touting the fact that the U.S. will hit 200 million Covid shots given since he took office.

The president said if the pace of vaccinations had stayed the same as when he replaced former President Donald Trump, it would have taken 220 days to reach the same milestone.

“It’s an incredible achievement,” said Biden, “but we still have something to do with our target groups.”

The president urged everyone over the age of 16 to look for a Covid vaccine. “When you’ve been waiting for your turn, don’t wait any longer,” said Biden. “Now is the time.”

The president had originally tried to get 100 million shots in 100 days – a goal that has been criticized for being far too modest. The Biden government exceeded that number in 58 days.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 26% of the US population is fully vaccinated. Health experts have signaled that the percentage required to achieve what is known as herd immunity is much higher.

But the vaccination rate has dropped slightly in the past few days, although every U.S. adult is eligible for a Covid shot starting this week.

According to CDC data, the US reports an average of 3 million daily vaccinations over the past week, up from about 1.8 million in early March.

That level has fallen slightly in recent days, from a high of 3.4 million reported shots per day on April 13 to just more than 3 million on Tuesday.

The slight decrease in daily pace may be due in part to ongoing research into the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The US Food and Drug Administration advised states earlier this month to suspend the use of J & J’s shot “out of caution” after six women developed a rare bleeding disorder.

Although the J&J vaccine accounts for less than 4% of the total of 213 million vaccines administered in the U.S., it was used for an average of nearly 425,000 reported shots per day at peak levels in mid-April.

Unlike what Pfizer and Moderna offered, J & J’s vaccine only required one dose, making it ideal for certain communities that may have more difficulty accessing vaccination sites multiple times over several weeks.

Government officials said the country has enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to maintain a pace of 3 million shots a day.

The Biden government has maintained the urgency of vaccinations, stressing that Covid remains a serious threat – especially as highly contagious variants spread across the US

“It’s almost a race between vaccinating people and this surge that is apparently about to increase,” said leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, earlier this month.